Dining Al Fresco in Dublin

It is very seldom that we get good weather in Ireland. As a result, us Dubliners wouldn’t be known to dine outdoors very often and the majority of our eateries don’t cater those who prefer al fresco.

Thankfully, today marks the beginning of the Leaving Certificate Exams which means great weather is here to stay for the rest of us thankfully beyond those days…

Here is a list of my favourite places to eat in outdoors in Dublin when the weather is good;

1. Herbstreet, Grand Canal Dock. 

Herbstreet is one of those lovely little restaurants that I normally only frequent for breakfast/brunch. Often when I’m there, I spot a few poor souls settling for seats outside in minus degree weather because the place is so popular and the food really is that good. Now that the weather is good, I imagine a very different scene entirely; perched facing the waterfront at Grand Canal Dock, Herbstreet is the perfect spot for a pasta primavera and a glass of white wine. Check out there dinner menu here.

2.  Marco Pierre White, Donnybrook.

Following the success of the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill on Dawson Street, the celebrity chef opened another carnivorous eatery situated within the leafy suburbs of Donnybrook in late-2013. As you would expect, the menu at the Courtyard Bar and Grill features a variety of different steaks ranging from €26 – €34, but it also does a great early bird too (1 Course €15.95, 2 Courses €21.95 and 3 Courses €26.95).

3. The Taphouse, Ranelagh. 

The Taphouse in Ranelagh (formerly Russell’s) is one of very few pubs in Dublin that boasts a sizable rooftop beer garden overlooking one of the city’s most popular villages. Come to think of it, there is no other pub like it. The rooftop area is the perfect suntrap for dining al fresco in Dublin and the menu is delicious and great value too.

4. Chez Max, Baggot Street.

Being brutally honest, there’s nothing striking about Chez Max when you walk past the exterior of the building on Dublin’s Baggot Street. What happens when you step inside, however, is a different scene entirely. Dimmed lighting, archways, and exposed brick transport you to somewhere Mediterranean and rustic; making it easy to forget that you’re in Dublin 2.

At the back of the restaurant is a small outdoor courtyard with stairs leading up to a bigger outdoor area (with a small bar tucked away in the corner too). Surrounded by plants and patio heaters, this place has a secret garden feel to it – making it one of my favourite places to eat outdoors in Dublin. Check out their menu here.

5. Osteria Lucio, Grand Canal.

In the former location of what used to be Pizza e Porchetta, nestled underneath the arches at the Malting Tower on Grand Canal Dock is Osteria Lucio, a new & revamped Italian eatery from Michelin Chef Ross Lewis of Chapter One.

Every time I’ve walked by Osteria Lucio, the terrace at the front is filled with people sipping wine and eating charcuterie. Another thing that makes this place particularly appealing is the fact that it is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre; so you can enjoy your meal in a much more peaceful setting. Check out their menu here.

Campo Viejo Tapas Trail

This June sees the return of the hugely popular Campo Viejo Tapas Trail take to the streets of Dublin from the 3rd – 28th.

For just €30 per person, you’ll get to sample a variety of Spanish culinary delights on offer in our capital city, as well as a few complimentary glasses of Campo Viego along the way. The four participating restaurants this year are: Bagots Hutton, Drury Buildings, Salamanca, and Zaragoza.

Having been on the tour myself last year, I cannot begin to emphasise what great value it really is. As we arrived to each of the four restaurants, we were greeted with a sample dish from their menu alongside a glass of Campo Viejo. The first three restaurants served savory tapas (ranging from Irish cheeses and cured meats to patatas bravas and manchego chicken) and the final restaurant served us a dessert tapas instead. In each restaurant we received a glass of Campo Viejo, which was the perfect accompaniment to each of the dishes we were served.

As we made our way from restaurant to restaurant, our personal tour guide took a few moments to stop on the street along the way and tell us a bit about Spanish culture in Dublin. He was informative, engaging and good humored: definitely playing a pivotal role in the overall enjoyment of the evening.

The Campo Viejo Tapas Trail truly is a great way to experience Spanish culture in some of Dublin city’s best restaurants and I cannot recommend it more highly. Tickets sell out fast, so make sure to keep an eye on the Facebook page and check the site for ticket releases here.

SUMMER RISING – THE IMMA FESTIVAL

After a hugely successful launch last year, SUMMER RISING returns to IMMA this June for 10 days starting on the 4th.

The festival celebrates summer with a series of art, music, performance and food events designed to showcase the beautiful buildings and grounds of IMMA, day and night.

In addition to the various summer exhibitions scheduled to take place, SUMMER RISING will feature:

• The SUMMER PARTY on June 6, an evening of curated music, art, food and cocktails;
• The hugely popular GARDEN RISING on June 6th and 14th, with food workshops, artist talks, performances and family-friendly activities;
• Midweek workshops for teens and families;

and much more…

The full programme will be announced in mid-May, so make sure to keep an eye on Facebook or sign-up to IMMA’s mailing list here.

Spring Awakening – Open Culture Day in D1

Dublin 1 has long been at the heart of culture in our capital city. The D1 arts community have come together to make the rest of Dublin aware of the great stuff Dublin 1 has to offer.

Take an Argentine tango lesson, learn about Georgian architecture, get re-acquainted with Joyce or learn how to write a novel. For Spring Awakening, the surroundings and activities are yours to explore and enjoy.

My picks from the programme are:

1. A late-night visit to the Dead Zoo,
2. Free Joycean walking tours @ The James Joyce Centre,
3. The Dublin City Literary Bike Tour,
4. Late entry (8pm) to the Hillsboro Fine Art Gallery.

There’s a bunch of other stuff happening too, so be sure to check out culturedublinone.com for more information.

Happenings Returns with First Open-Air Cinema Showing of 2015

Happenings returns to Dublin for the first time this year on May 1st with an outdoor showing of the 1993 hit movie, Groundhog Day.

Taking place within the grounds of Leinster Cricket Club in Rathmines, entry to the flick is only €5 (which can be paid for at the gate). A range of delicious food and drinks will be on sale at the event too, so all you need to remember to bring are picnic chairs and blankets.

Gates open at 7pm but the film will start just after 9pm (when it gets dark).

Sign up for the latest email alerts from Happenings here, or check out their twitter page to be notified of future events taking place this summer.

Indiependence Line-up Announcement

Indiependence returns to Mitchelstown for its 10th year this year on the August Bank Holiday weekend July 31st – August 2nd and they’ve announced their big lineup for the festival.

Dining Deals in Dublin

Here’s a list of some of my favourite haunts to go for grub. More importantly, these places offer unbeatable value for money on certain days of the week and are well worth a visit.

1. Meaty Monday @ Bagots Hutton Wine Emporium.

Monday nights are a carnivorous dream in Bagots Hutton where you can get a free board of cured meats with every purchase of a bottle of wine. Mmmm.

2. Margarita Monday @ 777.

Margaritas? On a Monday? Why not when they’re an incredible 2 for €12 at one of the best Mexican restaurants in town… My favourite is the Lobo Verde; a spicy twist on the standard margarita with jalapenos. Delicioso!

3. Cheesy Tuesday @ Bagots Hutton Wine Emporium.

Every Tuesday Bagots Hutton give away a free Sheridan’s Cheeseboard with every purchase of a bottle of wine. Yes please.

4. Hot Ribs Special @ 777.

For a mere €40, this deal gets you x2 Margaritas, x4 Tacos, x2 Corn on the Cobs AND a huge plate of Ribs with Mexican Slaw.

5. Pizza and a Pint @ The Bernard Shaw.

Everyday until 8pm, the Bernard Shaw offer a pizza of your preference and a pint for a mere €11. Considering the pizzas normally range from €8+, this ain’t bad value at all…

6. Super Nacho Happy Hour @ Taco Taco.

From the people that brought you #BrunchOfChampions, Taco Taco is Dublin’s newest Mexican eatery offering loads of great deals on different days of the week. The winner for me though are Taco Taco’s Super Nachos (with BBQ chilli beef, avocado & tomato salsa, melted mature cheddar, jalapeños & sour cream) for just €8.95 everyday from 5pm – 6.30pm. Normally priced at €14.95, this deal saves you enough for a pint to devour alongside it too.

7. €9.99 menu @ The Meeting House

Set in the cultural quarter of Temple Bar, The Meeting House is the latest addition to the Dublin foodie scene. Every single thing on their food menu is just €9.99; mains are priced at €9.99 each and desserts and sides are priced at €9.99 for two. Alternatively, you can get any 4 dishes for €35 or 6 for €49, which is excellent value for the quality of food on offer. Check out their full menu here.

Festival Wishlist #1 | Forbidden Fruit

Now in its fifth year, Forbidden Fruit returns to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham this May for three days of dance, comedy and electronica. So far, the lineup leans heavily on electronic and hip-hop; nothing to complain about there.

On Friday, Fatboy Slim will headline with support from Disciples. Saturday will see the Wu Tang Clan, Groove Armada (DJ set), Jamie xx, Mr. Scruff, Joey Bada$$, Earl Sweatshirt, Mount Kimbie (DJ set), Bakermat and many more take to the stage. Finally, Sunday will see sets by Richie Hawtin, Booka Shade (live), Run the Jewels, Matador, Cyril Hahn, Dusky, Waze & Odyssey and more TBA.

What better way to spend a bank holiday in Dublin? For tickets, check out Ticketmaster.

36 Hours in Dublin

I stumbled across this little beauty yesterday and thought it was worth sharing.

The New York Times writes;

“Dublin’s been through tumultuous change in recent decades, from the Celtic Tiger years, when BMWs were de rigueur, to the post-crash depression, when the cacophony of incessant building suddenly went silent.

Today, signs of economic recovery are emerging, but it’s a more refined wave of affluence than what the flashy boom years had to offer. The city is finding a new way to exist — neither ostentatious with wealth nor bowed down under debt.”

The video truly speaks for itself. Watch the full clip here:

Blue Moon Lost Wednesday @ RHA Gallery, Dublin 2

This day last week, a friend and I attended an event in the RHA Gallery on Ely Place, Dublin 2. Showcasing some of Ireland’s most innovative creatives, the event kicked off from 6pm with a line-up that included the best experimental live music, DJ’s, art, dance, film and food that the country has to offer.

First off, we signed up to take a tour of of the current exhibition, The Untold Want, upstairs in the gallery. Our tour guide, Patrick, was very knowledgeable and spent just over half an hour explaining the meaning behind each piece of work in unprecedented detail. When the exhibition ended, we went in search of the bar to collect our free Blue Moon’s and made our way towards the Tropical Popical queue, who were giving away free manicures for everyone.

Music filled every single room on the evening thanks to the DJ sets from Shenanigans and Ghostboy (Mother). After our manicures, we gathered in a crowd of onlookers to catch a glimpse of B-Boy break dance crew, Free.Yo.Soul.

The Journeymen Project were also on site printing hand made images for everyone… some who were slightly more organised than me got their images printed on a t-shirt or a bag, which I’ll definitely be doing the next time I attend.

Food on the night came courtesy of ‘Hog and Pop’, selling delcicious smoked pulled pork sambos. If this isn’t your thing, Coppa Café remained open for the duration of the evening serving up their usual delectable selection of food and wine.

What: Blue Moon Lost Wednesday.

Where: RHA Gallery, 15 Ely Place, D2.

When: Every 8 weeks (estimated date for next event: 20th May).

How: Tickets are €15, this includes entry + three (yes, THREE) complimentary Blue Moon beers.